Maui man takes canoe navigation high-tech
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
A Maui man who worked on the groundbreaking computer-generated film "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" is using the same cutting-edge technology to preserve and spread knowledge of two ancient Hawaiian traditions.
Ronald Perry, proprietor of Pacific Archiving of Napili, hopes to launch interactive Polynesian navigation simulation software in June and has a longer-term project to archive hula performances using motion-capture technology — the technique employed to create lifelike characters in "Final Fantasy," which was released last year.
Ronald Perry, proprietor of Pacific Archiving of Napili, hopes to launch his interactive Polynesian navigation software in June. It lets users travel in a traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe among 300 Pacific islands.
Perry, 34, worked as technical director/set designer for the $135 million film's Motion Capture Department and was also technical director of the acclaimed 'Ulalena stage show in Lahaina until October. He is probably better known for using computers to design award-winning sets, sound, lights and special effects for Honolulu theater productions.
The Punahou alumnus said a lifelong love of sailing and appreciation for the feats of Polynesian seafarers inspired him to tackle the navigation simulation project, meant for education and entertainment.
The simulation will allow users to travel in a traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe among 300 Pacific islands using celestial markers and other indicators, such as driftwood and seabirds. Perry said users don't need to be familiar with astronomy or ocean currents to play.
Users start by choosing a location from a clickable map, coordinates, or random placement within Oceania. Navigators are given no additional information and are left to explore by their own devices.
The primary screen is an interactive 3-D view from the canoe deck. The user is restricted to the vessel, but the canoe can sail and steer in any direction, except into the wind. Stars in the sky can be highlighted, connected or named for use as personal indicators.
As the voyage progresses, navigators must react to storms, cloudy nights when the stars are not visible, and other weather and ocean conditions.
Perry said he is still refining the project but plans to have the simulation ready for sale as a CD-ROM or downloadable from his Web site by summer.
Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Polynesian navigation software is targeted at upper elementary school ages and older.
Ronald Perry also wants to use his technology skills for archiving hula performances.
While finishing work on the simulation, Pacific Archiving's chief business remains virtual tours of vacation rentals, luxury real-estate properties and other projects, such as a virtual tour of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater and a computer model of a newly designed foot strap for windsurfing.
Perry is also making arrangements to acquire a portable motion-capture system that will allow him to visit different hula halau and record dance movements. Using markers placed on different parts of the human body and multiple cameras, motion-capture photography records sequences of movement and generates three-dimensional information.
The computer archive of hula performances could be used for instruction and to preserve the unique styles of prominent kumu hula, Perry said. Users who access the archive for a fee would be able to control the animation and manipulate the camera controls to study the performance from any point of view.
Perry said he has received an enthusiastic response from the kumu hula about the project.
O'ahu kumu hula John Keola Lake, who is working with Bishop Museum on a special hula exhibit to open early next year, said that, generally, he sees nothing wrong with mixing ancient art and modern technology.
"With the technology we have today, we've got to move with it and use it. As long as it doesn't offend anyone and it preserves the integrity, that's great," he said.
More information on Perry's work is on the Web.
Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808)244-4880.
